Crazy Inventions

This is the kind of stuff we send around at work for entertainment . . . this first crazy invention called the Transition, a small plane that turns into a car. So you can fly yourself somewhere, land, then get on the road and go. Can you imagine?

The next is the Walkstation--the answer to stopping the weight you gain by sitting on your ass at a desk day after day doing useless, pointless work and getting no exercise. Pretty crazy!

A Bird in the House is Worth . . .

Well, my adventure this weekend involved trapping and releasing a sparrow to get it out of my house. We often leave the back door open for air and we don't have a screen cause my dog destroyed two in a row and I decided not to put one back on. So yesterday I was in the basement doing some work and I hear a big scuffle upstairs involving said dog. Jeffro went up to investigate what my bad dog was doing, and when he got upstairs, all he kept saying was "oh my God!" then finally "there's a bird in the house!" I went running upstairs and there it was perched on the window sill in my bathroom (luckily). I took a towel and tried to catch him, until finally it landed in the trash can. I threw the towel over that and took it outside. It was pretty darned funny.

The rest of the weekend wasn't as eventful, though we did go out last night to our favorite sushi place, Matuba, then to Jay's in Clarendon to listen to a favorite local band, Catfish Honeymoon. They're always a great time, and had some fun new songs including Kathleen Edwards' awesome song "Back to You," which they did a great job covering.

Stealing the Three-fer

1. My coworker that I share an office with has been sick, and coming in to work every day hacking and spewing her germs all over. To the point where now I feel like I'm on my way to getting sick.

2. I have to agree with Jeffro and Metrocurean that Morou got ripped off by getting kicked off The Next Iron Chef. Farrah Olivia is still my favorite local restaurant, the judges obviously have poor taste buds.

3. This recipe, posted by A Sizable Apple, is truly delicious and will be great when (if ever) the cold weather gets here. I changed it up a bit by cutting down the garlic a bit (used three instead of four cloves, and boy was it garlicky-good and cleared out my sinuses!), using Swiss Chard (don't like broccoli rabe), and sprinkled pamensan cheese at the end as I couldn't find fontina. I also added some crushed red pepper. Highly recommended!

Curse of the Cowboys

According to Jeffro, I have the power to make or break the results of the Dallas Cowboys games. Whenever I watch, apparently, their luck turns bad and they start losing. The minute I leave, things turn around and they win. So I have been relegated to the basement today for the remainder of the game, after they were losing at halftime. I'll have to look into this power more, to see how it can be used in conjunction with betting to earn big bucks.

Matt Nathanson Live

Last night Jeffro and I went to the 9:30 Club to see Matt Nathanson, one of our favorite live acts. He recently released a new album, Some Mad Hope, so it was cool to hear some new songs from him. Plus an excellent cover of Journey's Don't Stop Believing!

Another Gorgeous Weekend

It has been another beautiful weekend here in the DC area, trying to fool me into wishfully believing that winter will never arrive. However, when I walk the dogs in the morning, I am getting closer and closer to needing to wear some gloves cause my hands get cold easily.

Friday night Jeffro and I went to see Marah at Jammin' Java. Check out the footage that he took on his blog.

Yesterday I had my Italian class--it's hard to believe it's already 1/2 over. Then Jeffro surprised me with a picnic at Gravelly Point, which was the highlight of my weekend. Until Jeffro got sick, that is. We think he's fighing off a cold. The rest of the weekend was chores, errands, and long walks with the dogs.

Next Iron Chef

I'm so excited about the latest Food Network Show, The Next Iron Chef. It debuted last night and my local favorite chef, Morou, is one of the competitors! I absolutely love his restaurant, Farrah Olivia in Old Town.

Beautiful Weekend

This weekend was probably the most gorgeous weather we've had in quite a while. I spent a lot of time outside, particularly on Sunday, when Jeffro and I took his mom, who was visiting for the weekend, to the Occoquan Craft Fair. I didn't buy anything, but it was fun to walk around and see some of the vendors' fares. I even got a replacement pump for a soap dispenser that I'd gotten a couple of years ago.

Cake Love Open in Shirlington

Big neighborhood news. Cake Love is now open in Shirlington! I went in there tonight to take a peek before my pedicure, and lo and behold, Warren Brown was standing there frosting a cake! I thought it was him but wasn't 100% sure and didn't want to look like a star-struck idiot, so I just said hello and he said he'd be right with me. I wound up not getting anything immediately cause I didn't want to have to carry it into the pedicure appointment, but went back later and got vanilla/vanilla and chocolate/cream cheese cupcakes. At about $3 a pop, I was really curious how they would taste, and they weren't what I expected.

They were good, but not fabulous and I wanted fabulous. I really wanted to love, love, love Cake Love. I do, but only cause I think it's great what Warren Brown has accomplished with his life, and how he left his job as a lawyer to do what he loves in life. The cupcakes are not very sweet, and the cake is very dense, both of which I like. But they could have had a little more flavor overall. They had butter creme icing, for the most part, which isn't my favorite cause I admit I like cheap, sweet-as-hell, store-bought cupcakes! I would definitely go back, but next time I would pick a more exciting flavor (the vanilla/lemon was sold out when I got back after a 45 minute pedicure, so I guess sales are going ok there so far). The prices of cakes started at $40 for a small, so I doubt I'll be buying anything more than an occasional cupcake here or there . . . but it was mighty exciting to see the Food Network star there personally frosting cakes! They're having a grand opening on November 3, and participating in Shirlington's Oktoberfest on October 6, so come check it out!

Working from Home

I'm working from home today for several reasons: One: it's quiet at work this week so I'm trying to play catch up on projects that have been hanging over my head. There is one in particular that requires a lot of writing that I can't seem to finish in the office, no matter how quiet. Two: I just needed a day to sleep a little later than usual. Three: because I can! I'm not sure about the productivity of the day, when it looks something like the scenario below. However, I am just about done with my project, so I guess that's what counts.

Me: Sitting at computer, minding my business, doing work
Dog: Comes up and bumps wet nose against arm, causing typos
Me: Tell dog, “no, go lie down”
Dog: Goes away for 5 minutes
Dog: Comes and stands under desk, looks up at me and wags its tail, “can we go out yet?”
Me: Tell dog, “no, not yet”
Dog: Goes away for 5 minutes
Dog: Comes up and presses wet, slobbery toy against my leg, “can we play?”
Me: Tell dog, “no, I’m working”

Repeat pattern for the next 7.5 hours. . . .

Fall's A-Comin'

Jeffro and I spent the day driving out near Skyline Drive--friends of ours were having a birthday lunch out in Winchester. What a beautiful day! In the mountains, the leaves are already starting to change, much more so than here. So that means fall is definitely upon us. But I'm happy to hear we're supposed to have 80 degree weather this week. I'm not ready to let go of summer yet.

It's been a busy weekend . . . yesterday I had my Italian class then did some freelance work. So this weekend has just flown by and I have to go to work tomorrow. The next few weekends are equally busy. Jeffro's mother is coming down next weekend, and my grandfather and uncle are coming the following weekend.

Cape Cod: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

We're back from our trip to Cape Cod, and it was a pretty nice time, although way too short and too much crappy weather. Here's an overview of what we did:

The Good

Had plenty of seafood and good meals at Vinings and abbicci.

Had a fun (yet rainy) day trip to Provincetown.

Took a wonderful ferry trip out to Martha's Vineyard (see photo), which was my favorite part of the trip.

Went to some cool antique shops and art galleries in the town of Brewster where we stayed.

Enjoyed our stay at Ocean Edge Resort. We had a great little apartment, complete with kitchen and living room separate from bedroom. Very spacious.

The Bad and the Ugly

The weather from Sunday through Tuesday really sucked. Cold and rainy, not my idea of a fun vacation. Plus I hadn't packed appropriately. We went to some beaches but they just weren't beautiful and sparkling like on a sunny day. My birthday trip to Martha's Vineyard got postponed by a day, which was a bummer.

Ciao for Now

Well, I had my first Italian class today, and considering that I didn't get to bed last night until like 2:30 due to Jeffro's gig, I think I did pretty well! The class is bigger than I thought, and the instructor seems like he's going to be molto bene. So we'll see. We leave for Cape Cod soon, so I probably won't be able to post for a little while. Ciao!

Friday Night Plans?

If so, cancel them and join me this Friday, Sept. 7 in Old Town, Alexandria at Bistro Europa to see Jeffro's band, Jeter. You might even catch me singing guest backup for one song . . . The show starts at 10:00 until ?? There’s no cover, so come on out, and bring a friend or twelve! Check out their MySpace site to listen to a couple of new songs. Hope to see you there!

www.myspace.com/jeterband

MP3: Lay Down - Jeter

Happy Labor Day!

Boy, am I glad we have a three-day weekend. I feel like I've been fighting off a cold, so three days to sleep in is just perfect. The weather has been gorgeous, and yesterday I enjoyed an outdoor BBQ at NOAAgirl's house. A friend of hers was visiting from Italy, so she decided to have a typical American cookout, complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, and apple pie. It was a very fun time. Today is a cookout at my sister's for my nephew's birthday celebration. Tomorrow, thankfully, I have nothing on the books. Maybe I'll go to the pool for a last tribute to summer. Boy do I hate when it ends.

New "Designer" Mutt?

I met the cutest dog in my neighborhood today, a cross between a Bichon Frise and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Apparently, the "Cavachon" is a registered breed with the American Canine Hybrid Club, not that I ever knew the club existed. So very cute!

I predict this will be the next big hybrid since the "Puggle," which I also love. Coincidentally, Sam the Cavachon was playing with Greta the Puggle when we met.

Two Moons Tonight

If you're a night owl . . . tonight the sky will look like it has two moons. The planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky throughout August, and it will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye tonight when it comes within 34.65M miles of Earth. If you're awake, be sure to watch the sky at 12:30 am. It will look like the earth has 2 moons. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Share this with your friends as NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it again! It's also a lunar eclipse tonight.

Vick Diatribe

I feel I have to make my own public statement about Michael Vick, who today plead guilty to dogfighting charges. Being a long-time dog owner and animal lover, I find the man to be a disgusting, depraved, inhuman, son of a bitch. I hope he rots in jail, and encounters the same cruel treatment that he inflicted on those poor dogs who didn't want to fight. He is a monster, and I feel very sorry for his family. If he were my father, brother, or son, I would be ashamed to be associated with him. It's too bad this crime doesn't carry the death penalty. I know this is all very harsh, but I'm really angry and disturbed about this story, and felt the need to vent. At least for once justice is being served, and a celebrity is not wrangling out of punishment.

I'm Back!

I didn't get a chance to make a post about this before I left, but I've been "away" all week at our annual conference. It was held in DC, so it was local, but due to the early morning staff meetings (5:30 am) and inevitable late night receptions, dinners, etc., the entire staff stayed on site. Thank God. Let me just say that I was dreading the whole experience, especially the 4:30 am wake-up calls, and I wasn't let down. It was an exhausting, excruciating, stressful week and I'm so thankful it's over. When I got home yesterday at noon, I plopped myself in front of the tv and didn't move all day, taking a couple of naps along the way. I feel much better today and have the day off tomorrow, so that will be good. I'm just hoping I don't catch whatever bug poor Jeffro--who had to deal with the dogs all week--was striken by. There were some funny conference moments, including a fun closing reception at Lucky Strike, but overall I'm glad the conference only happens once a year.

Keith Urban Concert: Amazing!

Jeffro and I went to the Keith Urban concert last night at the Verizon Center. One word: amazing! He has obviously recovered well from his rehab problems earlier this year, and even made reference to that in the concert, thanking everyone for their support and especially his wife. He even dedicated a song to her.

His voice was excellent--no studio overproduction for Keith! What you hear on the CD is what you get live. His guitar playing was really complex, and the band was excellent too. They obviously have a lot of fun together. He played longer than scheduled, cause the crowd was so rowdy and fun. At one point he asked us to do the wave with our camera phones. My favorite song was "Tonight I Want to Cry" which he did solo, playing the piano. A couple of girls near me were in tears.

The craziest part of the whole show was the camerawork. Really high-tech stuff going on all night, projected on a huge screen behind the stage that really focused in on the guitar work and of course, Keith's face. As Jeffro said, he always knew where the camera was. The camera work was quite impressive.

And the best part about the whole show? Since they had all these cameras, and our seats were apparently behind one of the cameras, they upgraded us to sit literally four rows from the stage! It was awesome! I felt very lucky, and even got a couple of photos with my cell phone camera, so we'll have to see if those turn out--and if I can figure out how to download them. All in all, an amazing show with Keith at the top of his game! The Wreckers opened the show, and they were quite good too. That previously unknown Jessica Harp has a mighty powerful voice.